DraftKings’ main NBA DFS slate for Thursday starts at 7 p.m. ET and features the first nine games of the night. Below, I dive into three of my favorite targets for this slate.
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C, Marvin Bagley III, Dallas Mavericks vs. Sacramento Kings, $4,900
The Mavericks acquired Marvin Bagley III as part of the return for Anthony Davis at the trade deadline. He’s been a nice fit in Dallas so far, scoring at least 29 FPTS in three-straight games, despite coming off the bench. The former second overall pick has been Daniel Gafford’s primary backup, but the center is doubtful to play tonight — putting Bagley in line for his first start in a Mavericks uniform. Cooper Flagg (foot) and P.J. Washington are also sidelined, opening up a ton of shots.
Bagley has scored 1.0 FPTS per minute with a 20% usage rate since joining Dallas, and he should garner an expanded role Thursday night with several key contributors missing. Bagley should approach 30 minutes in a perfect matchup against the Kings, who rank second-to-last in defensive rating and are playing the second night of a back-to-back. Bagley could reach the double-double bonus and has 40 FPTS upside, making him the top value on the board.
SF/PF, Jonathan Kuminga, Atlanta Hawks vs. Washington Wizards, $5,800
The Hawks and Wizards will be going head-to-head for the second game in a row. Jonathan Kuminga made his Hawks debut in the first matchup and seemed elated to finally be out of Golden State, pouring in 46.2 FPTS in 24 minutes off the bench. Kuminga shot 9-of-12 from the field — including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc — and handled a 26% usage rate.
Jalen Johnson (hip) exited Tuesday’s contest after only five minutes and will remain out on Thursday, creating a massive void for Atlanta. Kuminga may not start, but he should see 25 to 30 minutes and a hefty usage rate once again.
It’s hard to find a better matchup than Washington, which ranks sixth in pace and 28th in defensive rating. The Hawks’ 123.5-point implied team total on DraftKings Sportsbook is the third-highest of the slate. Kuminga could easily go off again and is worth investing in at only $5,800.
SF/PF, Matas Buzelis, Chicago Bulls vs. Portland Trail Blazers, $6,300
With the Bulls down Anfernee Simons (wrist), Jaden Ivey (knee) and Jalen Smith (calf) for Tuesday’s matchup with the Hornets, Matas Buzelis took full advantage and finished with 47.8 FPTS across 33 minutes. The forward hoisted up a team-high 19 shots and garnered a 28.4% usage rate.
All three of those players will remain unavailable for Thursday, along with Patrick Williams (quad). Plus, Patrick Williams (quad). And let’s not forget that Nikola Vucevic and Coby White are both no longer with Chicago after being traded at the deadline. The Bulls have no choice but to feature Buzelis again — especially against a mediocre Trail Blazers defense.
Buzelis has played 60 minutes this season with Vucevic, White, Simons, Ivey, Smith and Williams off the court. He is generating 1.2 FPTS per minute in this situation with a 30.9% usage rate, an 8.6-percentage-point lift from his average. With a ceiling near 50 FPTS, Buzelis should easily outproduce his modest $6,300 salary.
